Legal Administrative Assistant (LAD)
Program Course Descriptions

Introduction to business law with emphasis on the formation of a contract, defenses to avoid contractual liability, discharge of contracts, remedies for breach of contract, introduction to the Uniform Commercial Code, sales, warranties, and consumer protection. Fulfills open and business electives.

This course will introduce and reinforce keyboarding techniques and speed and accuracy development. Basic word processing concepts will be introduced using the latest version of MS Word. Students will learn the word processing functions necessary to create and format business documents including letters, memos, tables, and reports. (3 hours of lecture per week)

This course is designed to prepare students to become effective communicators in business. Topics include a review of grammar and punctuation and techniques to improve reading, listening, speaking, and writing. Emphasis is on the composition of business correspondence and the ability to write clearly and concisely. The course will also include factors such as global communication, cultural diversity, ethics, and technology and their impact on business communication

Introduction to the American legal system and the paralegal profession, including the functions of a paralegal, ethical principles, federal and state court structures, litigation, sources of law, legal research and reasoning, investigation and interviewing, law office management, employment strategies and career perspectives.

Emphasis is on developing skills of writing, reading, analytical thinking, and research. Students are introduced to thought provoking ideas in readings from a variety of disciplines and learn to organize material, analyze ideas, and produce clear writing. Fulfills open and liberal arts electives.

This course continues to develop keyboarding and word processing skills. Major emphasis is placed on increasing speed and accuracy skills and producing various business documents from arranged, unarranged, handwritten, and rough-draft sources using MS Word advanced features.

This course gives the student a working knowledge of the capabilities of Microsoft Excel and Microsoft PowerPoint application software using a case-oriented, problem-solving approach. Students will learn proper spreadsheet design elements including working with cells, creating formulas and functions, formatting worksheets, and generating charts. Students will also learn to create business presentations including working with text, graphics, sound, transitions, and animation. Strategies for delivering a powerful presentation will be included.

Emphasis is on the principles and practices of newspaper writing, editing and the publication of printed media, typography, copyfitting, headline writing, and photo journalism. Two lectures and one writing lab are scheduled each week. The work may include writing for college or community publications. Fulfills open, liberal arts, composition 2, and humanities electives.

Designed to develop professional work ethics, attitudes and techniques needed by the administrative assistant in a contemporary business environment. Course includes simulated office experiences with emphasis on communications, human relations, travel arrangements, office mail, and organizational techniques. Fulfills open elective.

This course introduces the concepts and applications of database management software. Students will plan and create a database, build tables and enter data,design and execute queries, and generate reports using the latest version of Microsoft Access. Students will utilize Microsoft Outlook for transmitting business emails, maintaining contacts, and managing a calendar.Fulfills open elective.

Focuses on the nature and effects of verbal communication. Students will become familiar with the communication process, including some of the following: principles of organization, purpose, language structure, effective delivery, and audience analysis. Students individually will use these elements in informative and persuasive speaking in the traditional speaker-audience relationship. Fulfills open, liberal arts, and humanities electives.

Emphasis is placed on group dynamics and communication processes. The students will learn about effective communication skills in small group situations. Subjects include perception, group discussion, roles, norms, leadership, decision making, problem solving and conflict management. Fulfills open, liberal arts, and humanities electives.

Enhances career development and professional growth by integrating classroom study and seminar sessions with a faculty supervised 120 hour work experience in the student's academic major. Focuses on developing job search skills, work ethics, human relations and communications skills needed for success in the workplace. Course registration is subject to the availability of an approved internship/cooperative education work site.

This capstone course includes integrated, project-based office applications utilizing the latest version of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access. Students will produce a variety of business documents with an emphasis on efficiency and productivity required in the workplace. In addition, critical thinking and Internet research skills will be developed. Fulfills open elective.